Front-accessible bevel locking system

ABSTRACT

A front-accessible bevel locking system for use with a power tool, including a mechanism for locking the power tool into a selected tilt or bevel position for bevel angle cuts. The bevel locking mechanism has a lever attached to a link rod by a cam mechanism such that, as the lever is moved to the locked position, the link rod holds a pivot support for the power tool at a bevel angle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to tilt lockingmechanisms for power tools, and more specifically, to a bevel lockingsystem accessible from the front side of a power tool, which is capableof holding the power tool in a tilted position for bevel angle cuts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many power tools, such as mills, drill presses, or miter saws,are capable of producing a cut or hole to a work piece placed against ahorizontal table beneath a power drill or saw. Some power tools, such asmiter saws, have a rotatable horizontal table for making vertical cutsto a work piece at various angles. A vertical cut made at such an angleis called a “miter cut”.

[0003] Some power tools, such as compound miter saws, have a capabilityfor tilting a blade of the compound miter saw in a specific direction(usually, counter-clockwise) in order to make cuts at an acute angle tothe vertical, generally from 0° to 45° (left of vertical for the userwhen facing the front end of the compound miter saw). A cut made withthe blade tilted at an angle to the vertical (i.e., at a “bevel angle”)is called a “bevel cut”.

[0004] Still other power tools, such as dual bevel compound miter saws,have a capability for tilting the blade of the dual bevel compound mitersaw both counter-clockwise and clockwise to an acute angle, generallyfrom 0° to 45° either left or right of vertical. Dual bevel compoundmiter saws allow for a wider variety of bevel cuts by allowing the sawto tilt to a wider variety of bevel angles.

[0005] Bevel locking mechanisms are used to secure a tilted blade ordrill at a particular bevel angle. There are conventional methods usedfor locking a tool at a particular bevel angle. However, there is asignificant disadvantage to conventional methods in that conventionalbevel locking systems have been generally located at the rear and of acutting tool, away from a user. The user is thereby forced to reach overor behind the cutting tool in order to engage a bevel locking mechanism.The inaccessible location of conventional bevel locking mechanisms isboth an inconvenience and a threat to user safety: these are significantdisadvantages to heavy users of a conventional power tool, such as amiter saw.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,233 to Brundage et al. (“Brundage”) isrepresentative of such prior art devices, disclosing an arrangement inwhich the miter angle for a cut may be adjusted using a handle locatedat the front of a compound miter saw (labeled 11 in FIG. 1 of Brundage).Adjustment of a bevel angle however, unlike that of the position of acut, is accomplished through a bevel locking handle (labeled 27 in FIG.2 of Brundage) located at the back of the compound miter saw. The bevellocking handle may be loosened to allow the upper blade and housing tobe tilted about a bevel axis. After a bevel angle position has beenselected, rotational movement of the bevel locking handle locks the sawat a particular bevel angle.

[0007] Also representative of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,889to Brickner et al. (“Brickner”), which discloses a biasing system forlocking a saw at a particular bevel angle for bevel cuts. In thisbiasing system, a handle (labeled 78 in FIG. 3 of Brickner) is provided,again at the rear of the device for locking the blade at a particularbevel angle. The handle system (shown in FIG. 7 of Brickner) uses a maleand female conical taper structure, whereby the female structure isurged toward the male structure, eventually bringing the two intocontact. As contact is established, the bevel angle is locked.

[0008] There is, therefore, a need for a bevel locking system whereby auser can change the bevel angle of a cutting tool with a mechanismdisposed toward the front end of the tool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a bevel locking system with aquick release bevel lock lever, which is located toward the front end ofa power tool. The bevel lock lever may be attached to a side of asupport arm used for adjusting another angle, such as a miter angle, ofthe power tool.

[0010] Several different versions and embodiments of the invention havebeen contemplated. In a first embodiment, the present invention includesa knobbed handle connected to a bevel lock lever. The knobbed handle ismounted to the right side of the support arm for the power tool in thisembodiment. The bevel lock lever is rotatably mounted to a cam shaftalong a cam axis. The cam shaft has a cylindrical shape, but is slightlyoffset from the cam axis, so that as the cam shaft rotates around thecam axis, the radial distance of the edge of the cam shaft from the camaxis varies. A cam shaft follower is mounted around the cam shaft in thefirst embodiment, so that rotation of the cam shaft around the cam axiswith the bevel lock lever causes the cam shaft follower to shiftaxially. In the first embodiment, as the cam shaft follower is pulledaxially forward (when the bevel lock lever is pressed downwardly), alink rod connected to the cam shaft follower is also pulled axiallyforward. A flanged nut at the end of the link rod pulls the pivotsupport housing up against the worktable, preventing the pivot supporthousing from pivoting around the bevel axis.

[0011] In a second embodiment, the present invention includes many ofthe same components. However, in the second embodiment, the link rodextends beneath substantially the entire width of the worktable ratherthan the cam shaft follower. In the second embodiment, the cam shaftfollower (called a “cam follower” in referring to the second embodiment)has two prongs to which the link rod is bolted. Optionally, the link rodmay be surrounded by a pipe, which advantageously provides additionalmechanical support to the worktable.

[0012] The cam shaft follower and the cam follower are very similar infunction, as suggested by the similarity of the given names. Thedifferences are primarily structural. For ease of explanation of the twoembodiments, however, different names have been adopted.

[0013] The interior of the cam follower is not circular as the interiorof the cam shaft follower, but rather has a D-like shape. In addition,there is no cam shaft in the second embodiment; rather, a cam collar ismounted to a cam pin which extends along the length of the cam axis. Thecam collar has an eccentric shape, and though the cam collar is notoffset from the cam axis as the cam shaft was in the first embodiment,the eccentric shape of the cam collar results in a variable distancebetween the cam axis and the edge of the cam collar as the cam axis isrotated. As a result of this variable distance, the movement of the camfollower in the second embodiment as the cam axis is rotated is verysimilar to the movement of the cam shaft follower as the cam axis isrotated in the first embodiment: as the cam axis is rotated, the camfollower/cam shaft follower moves axially, shifting the link rodaxially, and applying pressure to the pivot support housing sufficientto prevent movement of the power tool around the bevel axis.

[0014] The second embodiment also includes a lever stop mounted to thecam pin (on the cam axis) on a side of the cam follower away from thebevel lock lever. The lever stop hits the worktable when the bevel locklever rotates the cam pin beyond a certain angle in either a clockwiseor a counter-clockwise direction so that the bevel lock lever does nothang loose when not in the locked position.

[0015] Finally, the second embodiment also includes a combination offlanged nut and lock nut at the end of the link rod of the secondembodiment. The lock nut can be adjusted to move the flange nut eithercloser to the outside plate of the pivot support housing or furtheraway, effectively increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to thepivot support housing when the bevel lock lever is moved into the lockedposition. The flanged nut may also have two layers, with a first layerclosest to the outside plate of the pivot support housing having acompressible material specially adapted to increase the tension betweenthe pivot support housing and the flanged nut.

[0016] Alternatively, the second embodiment may include one or morebearing plates and one or more brake pads at the end of the link rod ofthe second embodiment. In an embodiment in which there are two breakpads, the lock nut presses a washer against an outer brake pad when thelink rod is pulled towards the user, flexing an outer bearing plateagainst an inner brake pad. The inner brake pad contacts the innerbearing plate so that, finally, all parts are compressed togetheragainst the outside plate of the pivot support housing. An assembly withonly one break pad and one bearing plate may accomplish a similarresult. In some embodiments the outer brake pad, or both the inner brakepad and the outer brake pad, are made of a high-friction compositematerial, for example, an asbestos-steel composite. Such composites arecommonly used in automobile brake shoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of thepresent invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bevel locking system in anunlocked position illustrating a tilting or bevel movement of a cuttingtool, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bevel locking system in a lockedposition for use with a cutting tool, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a bevel locking system foruse with a cutting tool, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the bevel locking systemof FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a bevel locking systemof FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of a bevellocking system indicated in FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a side view of the bevel locking system of FIG. 3 in anunlocked position, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway view from a side of the portion of abevel locking system of FIG. 7 in an unlocked position, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 9 is a side view of the bevel locking system of FIG. 3 in alocked position, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0027]FIG. 10 is a partial cutaway view from a side of a portion of abevel locking system of FIG. 9 in a locked position, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a partially disassembled bevellocking system, in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0029]FIG. 11B is a perspective view of a partially disassembled bevellocking system, in accordance with a different version of a secondembodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of a bevel lockingsystem indicated in FIGS. 11A-B, in accordance with a second embodimentof the present invention; and

[0031]FIG. 13 is a side view of a cam collar and cam follower of a bevellocking system, in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In all of the embodiments shown in the figures, the invention isprovided in a dual bevel compound miter saw. However, as will berecognized by those of skill in the art, there is nothing to prevent theinvention as described and disclosed herein from being incorporated in adifferent power tool in which there is also an advantage to be gained byproviding a tilt or bevel angle locking system accessible from the frontend of the power tool.

[0033] FIGS. 1-2 provide a general understanding of how a bevel lockingsystem functions to hold a tilt or bevel angle for a power tool. InFIGS. 1-2, there is illustrated, in accordance with a first embodimentof the present invention, a bevel locking system 15 for holding a powertool 45 at a selected bevel or tilt angle for making a bevel cut. Themovement of the power tool 45 along the bevel or tilt angles isindicated by a curved arrow A in FIG. 1. When the bevel lock lever 70 isunlocked, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the power tool 45 isfree to pivot in the direction indicated by the curved arrow A. When thebevel lock lever 70 is locked, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, thepower tool 45 is held steady at a selected bevel angle. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the selected angle appears to be about 0°.

[0034] In embodiments of the present invention in which thefront-accessible bevel locking system is incorporated into a miter saw,there is also provided a work surface 25 and support arm 35, rotatablysecured to a worktable 200. The support arm 35 is attached to the worksurface 25 such that the support arm 35 may be used to rotate the worksurface 25 (in the directions indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2) on topof the worktable 200 and beneath the power tool 45, for example, inorder to make miter angle cut. The support arm 35 is also secured, at anend away from a user, to the power tool 45. The bevel locking system 15is adjacent to and attached to the support arm 35, thus providing anoperator with easy access to the bevel locking system 15.

[0035] Users of the power tool 45 use the bevel locking system 15primarily with a handle 100. The handle 100 of the bevel locking system15 may also be a ball, lever arm, switch, or any other type of handleknown in the art. The handle 100 is secured to a bevel lock lever 70 asshown in more detail in FIGS. 3-6. In some embodiments, the handle 100may be disposed (from the point of view of a user) to the left of thesupport arm 35, rather than to the right of the support arm 35 (seeFIGS. 11-13). In addition, the handle 100 may unlock by being presseddownwardly, rather than by being lifted upwardly as shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 1-2. The present invention should be understood toinclude a variety of such variations in the position and movement of thehandle 100.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3-6, a first end of the bevel lock lever 70 isintegrated with the handle 100, and may in some embodiments serve itselfas the handle 100. A second end of the bevel lock lever 70, opposite thefirst end, has an aperture 55 (shown in FIG. 6). In the embodiment shownin FIG. 6, the aperture has a hexagonal shape. In addition, in theembodiment of FIG. 6, the support arm 35 has a bracket 50, aligned withthe aperture 55, and adapted to receive a cam shaft 65, which extends ina direction generally perpendicular to the support arm 35. The cam shaftfollower 40 and the bevel lock lever 70 are secured together with thecam shaft 65 to the bracket 50 with the nut 90 and bolt 60 (otherfasteners are, of course, possible). A perspective view of the portionof the bevel locking system 15 shown disassembled in FIGS. 5 and 6 isshown assembled in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0037] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.11-13. In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-B, the handle 100 isreplaced with a bevel lock lever 70′, which functions as both a handleand a bevel lock lever in the second embodiment. As shown in FIGS.11-13, in the second embodiment, the bevel locking system 15′ is mountedto the left side of the support arm 35. A user of the bevel lockingsystem 15′ presses downwardly on the bevel lock lever 70′ to put thebevel locking system 15′ in the locked position.

[0038] The bevel locking system 15′ for the second embodiment differsfrom the bevel locking system 15 of the first embodiment in severalimportant respects. The cam shaft follower 40 of the first embodiment isreplaced instead with a cam follower 40′ (further described inconnection with the link rod 20′ below). The interior of the camfollower 40′ has a D-like shape, which is most evident in the side viewof the second embodiment shown in FIG. 13. In addition, there is no camshaft 60 offset from the cam axis in the second embodiment; rather,there is a cam pin 60′ which fastens the entire assembly—including bevellock lever 70′, cam collar 65′, and stop plate 80′—together. The cam pin60′ has an eccentric or elongated shape.

[0039] In the first embodiment of FIGS. 3-6, the radial distance betweenthe cam axis and the edge of the cam shaft 65 varied with rotationalangle around the cam axis because the cam shaft 65 was offset from theaxis (shown most clearly in FIG. 6). In the second embodiment of FIGS.11-13 (see, in particular, FIGS. 12 and 13), the radial distance betweenthe cam axis and the edge of the cam collar 65′ varies, producing asimilar effect, but without an offset from the cam axis. The eccentricshape of the cam collar 65′ and the cam follower 40′ effectively achievean axial movement of the cam follower 40′ with rotation of the camcollar 65′ around the cam axis. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the linkrod 20′ is bolted to the cam follower 40′ so that axial movement of thecam follower 40′ results in axial movement of the link rod 20′.

[0040] Locking action is achieved by a longitudinal shifting of the linkrods 20 and 20′. In the first embodiment, the cam shaft 60 is slightlyoffset from the rotational axis of the bevel lock lever 70. Thus,rotation of the bevel lock lever 70 is effective for moving the camshaft 60 into a position in which the cam shaft follower 40 will bepushed or pulled either toward or away from the user. When the bevellock lever 70 is rotated into a locking position as in FIG. 9, the camshaft 60 pulls the length of the cam shaft follower 40, the link rod 20(to which the cam shaft follower 40 is fixed), and a flanged nut 10mounted at the end of the link rod 20. In this manner the flanged nut 10is pressed up against an outside plate of a pivot support housing 110for the power tool 45, and friction between the flanged nut 10 and theoutside plate is effective for holding the power tool 45 at a particularbevel angle.

[0041] In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6, the cam shaftfollower 40 extends in an axial direction, generally parallel to thesupport arm 35 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. The cam shaft follower40 extends beneath the work surface 25, with the end of the cam shaftfollower 40 having an aperture for receiving a dowel pin 30, the dowelpin 30 being transverse to both the cam shaft follower 40 and a link rod20, thereby securing the cam shaft follower 40 to a front side of thelink rod 20. The link rod 20 also extends rearwardly continuing from theend of the cam shaft follower 40 generally parallel to the support arm35 and through a channel 95 of a pivot support housing 110 secured tothe worktable 200, and a support 105 for supporting the power tool 45.The end of the link rod 20 is threaded to receive a washer 150 and aflanged nut 10 for movably securing the locking mechanism 15 to anoutside plate of the support 105.

[0042] FIGS. 7-10 detail the movement of the link rod 20 with the bevellock lever 70 between a locked and an unlocked position. In the unlockedposition (FIG. 7), there is a first space 115 between the pivot supporthousing 110 and the support 105 and a second space 125 between thewasher 150, nut 10 and the outside plate of the support 105. In theunlocked position, the power tool 45 may rotate about the pivot supporthousing 110 to various tilt or bevel positions for bevel angle cuts.Once a bevel or tilt position has been selected, the handle 100 is moveddownwardly towards the plane of the work surface 25 such that the handle100 extends substantially parallel to the link rod 20 in the lockedposition shown in FIG. 9. As described above, when the handle 100 ismoved downwardly, the cam shaft 60 pulls the cam shaft follower 40, andin turn the link rod 20 in an axial direction towards the handle 100, asshown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Subsequently, the support 105 is pulled intocontact with the pivot support housing 110 by the flanged nut 10. Thismovement eliminates the spaces 115, 125, thereby locking the support105, and consequently the bevel angle of the power tool 45, into asecured position for a bevel angle cut. To release the lockingmechanism, the handle 100 is moved upwardly away from the work surface25, thereby releasing the tension between the pivot support housing 110and the support 105.

[0043] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.11-13. As shown in FIGS. 11A-B, the link rod 20 is replaced by a linkrod 20′ which extends beneath the work surface 25′ from the rear sidewith the pivot support housing 110′, to the front side with the bevellock lever 70′. Advantageously, the link rod 20′ is partially enclosedby a pipe 85′, which protects the link rod 20′, and provides mechanicalsupport to the work surface 25′. The cam shaft follower 40, whichextends beneath substantially the entire length of the worktable 100 inthe first embodiment, is shortened in the second embodiment to a lengthonly about twice as long as the diameter of the cam collar 65′. Twoprongs extend from the cam follower 40′, allowing the link rod 20′ to besecured to the cam follower 40′ with a suitable fastener, such as a boltor screw (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

[0044] An additional advantage of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-13 isthe support bracket 50′, which is mounted to the support arm 35 (notshown in FIGS. 11A-B) by the screws 195′. The support bracket 50′attaches to the work surface 25′ and rotatably supports cam shaft pin60′ and all its surrounding components. Referring to FIG. 12, the spacer160′ bears against the support bracket 50′ so that the pipe 85′ bearsagainst a first spacer 160′ towards an end of the pipe 85′ closest to auser, and against a second spacer 160′ at a second end away from theuser. Both spacers are visible in FIGS. 11A-B. The pipe 85′ transferspressure to the rear and keeps work surface 25′ from flexing andwarping. The stop plate 80′ is keyed to the cam shaft pin 60′ andrestricts the rotation of components by contacting the work surface 25′when rotated to the unlocked position and when rotated to the lockedposition (see FIG. 13).

[0045] In the version of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, theportion of the bevel locking system 15′ disposed away from a userincludes a bearing plate 180′ and brake pad 170′ in addition to a washer150′ and nut 91′, as were used in the first embodiment. The rear portionof the version of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11B is the same asthe rear portion of the version of the second embodiment shown in FIG.1A, except that, in the version shown in FIG. 11B, two bearing plates180′ and two different brake pads 170′ and 175′ are used along withbearing plate spacers 190′ (which hold the bearing plates 180′ apart).In FIG. 11B, the two brake pads 170′ and 175′ may be made from eitherthe same or of different materials. For example, the outer brake pad175′ might be made from a high friction asbestos and steel compositematerial, such as are commonly found in automobile brake shoes. Theinner brake pad 170′ could be made from the same material, or from amaterial such as steel. As is known to those of ordinary skill in theart, different materials may be used in order to achieve differentphysical advantages, for example, of high friction, light weight, ordurability. In both of these versions of the second embodiment, thebearing plates 180′ and brake pads 170′ are used to increase thefriction between the support 105′ and the pivot support housing 110′, inorder to hold more securely the power tool 45 at a selected bevel angle.

[0046] In FIG. 11B, the link rod 20′ pulls the nut 91′, which pressesthe washer 150′ and outer brake pad 170′ against the outer bearing plate180′. The outer bearing plate 180′ flexes against the inner brake pad170′, which contacts the inner bearing plate 180′. The inner bearingplate 180′, in turn, is pressed to the support 105′, so that, when thebevel lock lever 70′ is in the locked position, the entire bevel lockingsystem 15′ is compressed, effectively holding the power tool 45 at afixed bevel angle.

[0047] Although two embodiments are particularly described and disclosedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand andappreciate how other embodiments of the present invention are possible.In particular, a geometrical arrangement of the cam axis or the link roddifferent from that shown or described in either the first embodiment orthe second embodiment may be preferable to the specific arrangementsdisclosed herein. A bevel locking system in which the bevel lock leveris disposed between the front end and the rear end of a power tool wouldalso be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from theembodiments disclosed and described, and a bevel lock lever on a leftside or a right side of a power tool, which are also front-accessible toa user, are part of the present invention.

[0048] All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

[0049] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referentsin the context of describing the invention (especially in the context ofthe following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular andthe plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended toserve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separatevalue falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, andeach separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. All methods described herein can beperformed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and allexamples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, isintended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose alimitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. Nolanguage in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0050] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein,including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out theinvention. Of course, variations of those preferred embodiments willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading theforegoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employsuch variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for theinvention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications andequivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended heretoas permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of theabove-described elements in all possible variations thereof isencompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bevel locking system for use with a power tool,comprising: a base including a front side and a rear side opposite thefront side, the front side being accessible to a user of the power tool;a pivot support for the power tool mounted to the rear side of the base,the pivot support being capable of a rotational movement around a bevelaxis; a linkage extending generally parallel to the bevel axis, thelinkage including a first end and a second end opposite the first end,the linkage movably connected to the pivot support at the second end;and a lever movably mounted to the base in a position proximal to theuser, the lever operably linked with the first end of the linkage sothat a movement of the lever results in an axial movement of the linkagethat applies pressure to the pivot support and prevents the rotationalmovement of the pivot support around the bevel axis.
 2. The bevellocking system of claim 1, wherein the power tool is a miter saw.
 3. Thebevel locking system of claim 1, wherein the lever is movably mounted tothe base at the front side.
 4. The bevel locking system of claim 1,wherein the lever is movably mounted to the base at a position betweenthe front side and the rear side, the position between the front sideand the rear side being proximal to the user.
 5. The bevel lockingsystem of claim 1, wherein the base is rotatable in a plane generallyparallel to the bevel axis.
 6. The bevel locking system of claim 1,wherein the lever further includes an eccentric piece with a varyingdiameter fixed to the first end of the linkage, the eccentric piececonnected to the lever so that, as the lever rotates, the varyingdiameter of the eccentric piece moves the linkage axially.
 7. The bevellocking system of claim 1, wherein the lever further includes a leverstop shaped to contact the base when the lever is moved beyond a firstpoint in a first direction, the lever stop also shaped to contact thebase when the lever is moved beyond a second point in a seconddirection.
 8. The bevel locking system of claim 1, wherein the linkageis partially enclosed by a pipe that provides mechanical support to thebase.
 9. The bevel locking system of claim 1, wherein the linkagefurther includes a flange nut with two layers for contacting the pivotsupport, the first of the two layers being specially adapted forcontacting the pivot support.
 10. The bevel locking system of claim 1,wherein the linkage further includes at least one bearing plate and atleast one brake pad, the at least one bearing plate and the at least onebrake pad being specially adapted for contacting the pivot support. 11.A bevel locking system for use with a power tool, comprising: a baseincluding a front side and a rear side opposite the front side, thefront side being accessible to a user of the power tool; a pivot supportfor the power tool mounted to the rear side of the base, the pivotsupport being capable of a rotational movement around a bevel axis; alinkage extending generally parallel to the bevel axis, the linkageincluding a first end and a second end opposite the first end, thelinkage movably connected to the pivot support at the second end; and alever movably mounted to the base in a position proximal to the user,the lever being movable between an unlocked position and a lockedposition, the first end of the linkage being operably linked to thelever so that when the lever moves from the unlocked position to lockedposition, the linkage moves axially toward the front side of the base,applying pressure to the pivot support and preventing the rotationalmovement of the pivot support around the bevel axis.
 12. The bevellocking system of claim 11, wherein the power tool is a miter saw. 13.The bevel locking system of claim 11, wherein the lever is movablymounted to the base at the front side.
 14. The bevel locking system ofclaim 11, wherein the lever is movably mounted to the base at a positionbetween the front side and the rear side, the position between the frontside and the rear side being proximal to the user.
 15. The bevel lockingsystem of claim 11, wherein the base is rotatable in a plane generallyparallel to the bevel axis.
 16. The bevel locking system of claim 11,wherein the lever further includes an eccentric piece with a varyingdiameter fixed to the first end of the linkage, the eccentric piececonnected to the lever so that, as the lever rotates from the unlockedposition to the locked position, the diameter of the eccentric piece islarger, shifting the linkage axially.
 17. The bevel locking system ofclaim 11, wherein the lever further includes a lever stop shaped tocontact the base when the lever is moved beyond a first point in a firstdirection, the lever stop also shaped to contact the base when the leveris moved beyond a second point in a second direction.
 18. The bevellocking system of claim 11, wherein the linkage is partially enclosed bya pipe that provides mechanical support to the base.
 19. The bevellocking system of claim 11, wherein the linkage further includes aflange nut with two layers for contacting the pivot support, the firstof the two layers being specially adapted for contacting the pivotsupport.
 20. The bevel locking system of claim 11, wherein the linkagefurther includes at least one bearing plate and at least one brake pad,the at least one bearing plate and the at least one brake pad beingspecially adapted for contacting the pivot support.
 21. A bevel lockingsystem for use with a power tool, comprising: a base including a frontside and a rear side opposite the front side, the front side beingaccessible to a user of the power tool; a pivot support for the powertool mounted to the rear side of the base, the pivot support beingcapable of a rotational movement around a bevel axis; means forpreventing the rotational movement of the pivot support around the bevelaxis; and means for selectively engaging the means for preventing. 22.The bevel locking system of claim 21, wherein the means for preventingis a linkage extending generally parallel to the bevel axis, the linkageincluding a first end and a second end opposite the first end, thelinkage movably connected to the pivot support at the second end. 23.The bevel locking system of claim 21, wherein the means for selectivelyengaging is a lever movably mounted to the base in a position proximalto the user, the lever being movable between an unlocked position and alocked position, the first end of the linkage being operably linked tothe lever so that when the lever moves from the unlocked position tolocked position, the linkage moves axially toward the front side of thebase, applying pressure to the pivot support and preventing therotational movement of the pivot support around the bevel axis.
 24. Thebevel locking system of claim 21, wherein the power tool is a miter saw.25. The bevel locking system of claim 21, wherein the lever is movablymounted to the base at the front side.
 26. The bevel locking system ofclaim 21, wherein the lever is movably mounted to the base at a positionbetween the front side and the rear side, the position between the frontside and the rear side being proximal to the user.
 27. The bevel lockingsystem of claim 21, wherein the base is rotatable in a plane generallyparallel to the bevel axis.
 28. The bevel locking system of claim 21,wherein the lever further includes an eccentric piece with a varyingdiameter fixed to the first end of the linkage, the eccentric piececonnected to the lever so that, as the lever rotates from the unlockedposition to the locked position, the diameter of the eccentric piece islarger, shifting the linkage axially.
 29. The bevel locking system ofclaim 21, wherein the lever further includes a lever stop shaped tocontact the base when the lever is moved beyond a first point in a firstdirection, the lever stop also shaped to contact the base when the leveris moved beyond a second point in a second direction.
 30. The bevellocking system of claim 21, wherein the linkage is partially enclosed bya pipe that provides mechanical support to the base.
 31. The bevellocking system of claim 21, wherein the linkage further includes aflange nut with two layers for contacting the pivot support, the firstof the two layers being specially adapted for contacting the pivotsupport.
 32. The bevel locking system of claim 21, wherein the linkagefurther includes at least one bearing plate and at least one brake pad,the at least one bearing plate and the at least one brake pad beingspecially adapted for contacting the pivot support.